Foam necklet



Nov. 14, 1961 3,008,464

I. c. ATKINS FOAM NECKLET Filed March 17, 1958 3,008,464 Patented Nov; 14, 1961 ice 3,008,464 FOAM NECKLET I Ina C. Atkins, 3023 14th St. NW., Washington, D.C. Filed Mar. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 727,512 1 Claim. (Cl. 128-24) This invention relates to a neck device in the nature of a foam necklet or surround, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efiicient foam necklet or surround which is especially adapted for use by healthy adults, who are dieting to lose weight and who usually acquire unsightly changes about the neck and face, such as loose, sagging, drooping tissues, the necklet constituting means for correcting or avoiding these difficulties.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient foam necklet or surround comprising a light weight foam rubber cushion which is soft, cool, pliable, ventilated, soothing, mildly elastic, mildly adherent, and which has all of the characteristic qualities needed to form a mould to cover the entire surface of the neck of a wearer, and to compress and expand with the movement of the head, to thereby provide a gentle form of self-made exercise, massage and support for the tissues in the area of the neck.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear in the following specification and claim.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the necklet showing its position upon the neck of a wearer;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, a certain portion being show in section and slightly compressed when contacted by the chin;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the necklet, shown applied to the neck of a wearer, in a reclining position;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the necklet looking at the top face thereof;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the necklet looking at the bottom face thereof showing the vent sockets;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the necklet, a portion of the inner face being broken away to show the vent sockets therein;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 77 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view showing the position it assumes when placed around the neck of a wearer, and

with the tie element having the bow at the back;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the bow in the front of the necklet;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of the necklet;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged irregular sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

By referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen I that 10 designates the foam necklet or surround which is formed of material which in the preferred embodiment is foam rubber and the like which possesses the characteristic qualities needed-to form a mould to cover the entire surface of the neck of a wearer, and which neckletbecause of its material and structure is free to compress and expand with the movement of the head to thereby provide a gentle form of self-made exercise, massage and support for tissues in the area of the neck of a wearer. necklet 10 comprises a neck encircling element and is preferably formed substantially horse-shoe shaped, defining a widened or thickened front portion 11 in its front area having a flat upper surface 16 which extends directly under the chin of the wearer. This thickened portion 11 terminates in two rearwardly extending slightly tapering side portions 12 and 13 which are adapted to snugly fit around the sides and back of the wearers neck, as shown in the drawing. The front portion 11 of the The necklet is provided with vertically extending vent sockets 14 which are characteristic in foam rubber. These sockets-14 extend through the bottom flat face 15 of the necklet 10 and terminate at a point close to the upper face 16 of the necklet 19. The upper face 16 and the inner face 17 are smooth and unbroken, and the inner face 17 is mildly adherent to the skin so that it does not glide or cause friction. These faces 16 and 17 provide unbroken surf-aces for contact with the under portion of the chin and the sides and back of the neck of the wearer. The inner face 17 is preferably rough cut and not moulded to provide a surface which is mildly adherent to the skin so that the surface 17 is substantially in continuous constant direct contact with the porous elastic tissue of the neck. The fact that the surface 17 is rough cut increases its softness and elasticity and its massaging and kneading action and generally makes it more compatible with the skin. The surface 17, because of being rough out, is more soothing and causes easy suction of air through the open cells of the foam rubber as it is inflated and deflated by natural movements of the head, which movements also cause the surface 17 to massage and exercise the tissue of the neck.

The outer face 18 of the necklet 10 is provided with preformed or moulded slotted portions 19 through which a securing band or tie-element 20, such as ribbon, is threaded in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 to 9 inclusive. This securing band or tie-element extends around the outer face 18 of the necklet 10, and under or through the slotted portions 19, the free ends 21 projecting beyond the terminals 22 of the necklet 10, to facilitate the tying of a how 23 at the back of the neck of the wearer for firmly securing the necklet in place. It should be understood that any suitable means may be used for fastening the free ends 21 within the scope of the invention. As is shown, the slightly tapering side portions 12 and 13 not only taper as to thickness toward the terminals 22, but also preferably taper as to height from a point beyond or behind the jaws and around the back of the neck toward the terminals 22, the thicker portion of the sourround being related to the radial distance of the surround from the turning radius of the neck of the wearer (the spine), such that the surround is thicker the greater the distance from this axis, and vice versa.

It will be noted by considering the drawing that the top face 16 of the front portion 11 is fiat and smooth, and that the bottom face 15 thereof is also flat and smooth, but is provided with vent or air sockets formed therein, which sockets extend vertically into the front por tion 11 in the direction of the top face 16 and terminate short of the top face 16. These vent or air sockets not only, provide ventilation, but also break the thickness of the material to contribute to the softness of the necklet. The top face or upper surface 16 of the thickened front portion 11 and side portions 12 and 13 define fiat supports under the chin and jaws, to hold the chin off the chest, as shown in FIGURE 1, and to also mould the contour of the chin when the hea'd is held in a downward position, such as is shown in FIGURE 2. The necklet will compress and expand with the movements of the head to provide a gentle form of self-made exercise and masin the outer face or surface 18 of the necklet It with the free ends extending, these free ends 21 may be tied in back of the neck to adjust the pressure against the neck and to support the necklet against the neck in a selected and comfortable manner. The tie-element 2% may be loosened when the necklet lit) is used for support while sleeping, or the tie-element may be tightened when the necklet it) is used for exercise and massage for short intervals during the day or while working about the house. The securing element 20 suppresses, repels, and diffuses any outward motion set up in the material and in this manner prevents outward spreading, thereby maintaining contact between the neck and surface 17.

The necklet it) is constructed to allow free and easy voluntary or controlled movement of the head to perform the function of a selfmade stimulating mild massage, exercise or support for the tissues of the neck and cheeks. This massage will stimulate the development of firm, smooth tissue in the neck, and will help to erase the unwanted fatty areas of the neck. Although the necklet may be used by any adult having healthy tissues, it should not be used by anyone having growths, abnormal glands, or diseased tissues of the neck or face, without the advice of a physician. All cosmetics or oily applications should be removed from the skin before applying the device to the neck.

The present device is constructed to be especially advantageous for use by the middle aged group as a preventative to avoid unwanted and unsightly physical changes of the tissues of the neck and face before they become fixed and less susceptible to stimulation and rebuilding during the years of declining age.

The structure covers the entire area of the surface of the neck, front and back. It provides movable comfortable pressure to the neck according to the adjustment of the securing band to stimpulate support and massage the tissues in the-area while sleeping, working about the house, or, during a beauty treatment. Movements of the head serve to promote self made gentle stimulating massage, support and exercise of the tissues to radiate to the face to build firmness and to promote or maintain fullness of the cheeks, which is especially beneficial during periods of dieting for the purpose of losing weight.

The structure of the device is provided with a thickened front portion with a flat upper surface that rests under the chin and jaws to serve as a compressible expandable supporting shelf for the chin and jaws. The downward and side-to-side movements of the head serve to exercise, stimulate, massage and support the tissues of the neck that are adjacent to the cheeks, and thereby gently press these tissues upwardly toward the hair line, and to correct or prevent an acquired mass of excess fat under the chin commonly called the double chin, or to prevent loose, sagging, wrinkled tissues from forming under the chin following loss of weight. The use of this device will hold the head in correct posture and will serve to prevent or correct a hump at the back of the neck and to prevent or erase an accumulation of excess fatty tissue at the back of the neck.

The necklet is to be used by adults while sleeping, reclining, or at intermittent intervals while busy doing house work and the like, or during beauty treatments, but over-use or wearing the necklet too long while awake should be avoided, so that over-exercise which tends to stretch the tissues, will not defeat its purpose. By constructing the necklet of foam rubber, a durable device is provided having a fluffy cushion quality, which is soft, cool, elastic, compressible, expansible and pliable, and preferably of a natural ofi-white color. The necklet mildly clings to the neck and does not glide or cause friction. It is safe and non-irritating because it is feather-light as well as being ventilated or aerated. The necklet may be reduced in size by cutting off the ends 22 X if it is desired to adjust the necklet to a proper size while reducing.

In FIGURE 10 there is shown a modified form of the necklet, wherein the body 24 thereof is generally constructed in the shape illustrated and described above. In this modified form, the body 24 is provided with a plurality of spaced vertically extending pre-forrned or moulded apertures 25 near the outer face 26 of the body 24. A narrow ribbon or other flexible element 27 is laced through these apertures 25 and over the outer face 26 of the body 24. A'wide ribbon 2? is extended over this outer face 26 and under the flexible element 27, this flexible element holding the ribbon in place. The free ends 29 may be tied at the back of the neck to hold the necklet in place, or these free ends 29 may be crossed at the back of the neck and extended forwardly over the outer face 26 and tied in a bow at the front under the chin, if desired.

As is shown in FIGURE 9, the tie-element 20 may also be crossed at the back of the neck and extended forwardly and then tied in a bow 23 at the front under the chin, if desired.

As is shown in FIGURE 2, the front thickened portion 11 is adapted to be compressed by the chin as the head is bent downwardly and forwardly against the flat upper face 16. This upper face 16 will then conform to the contour of the under portion of the chin and the lower ventilated face 15 will anchor smoothly on the upper chest at the neckline. The neck-encircling band 20,, as is shown in FIGURES 1 to 9, inclusive, extends over or around the outer face 18 of the necklet it} to hold the necklet in direct contact with the skin of the neck. The inner face 17, as stated above, is a selvage mildly adhering surface for preventing gliding and friction action when applied to the skin of the neck. The upper flat surface of the necklet which extends across the front and over the sides of the necklet defines a chin and jaw supporting shelf.

It should be understood that certain detail changes in the device may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is:

A necklet providing stimulating exercise and massage of tissue within the neck area of the wearer in order to restore flabby loose tissue to firmness comprising: a horseshoe-shaped surround having a front portion and 7 two open substantially parallel side portions adapted to close evenly about the neck of a wearer, the material of said surround comprising mildly adherent foam rubber, said surround having an inner face and an outer face joined by an upper face and a lower face, said inner face being adapted to continuously directly contact the neck of the wearer, said upper face being adapted to intermittently contact the under chin area around the lower jaw of the wearer, said lower face being adapted to intermittently contact the upper chest around the neck of the wearer, the thickness of said side portions as defined by the width of said upper and lower faces along said side 7 portions decreasing in the directions extending out from said front portion, said front portion including air sockets for providing ventilation and to break the thickness of the material thereby contributing to the softness of said necklet, said inner face being rough cut for mildly adhering to the skin, and a wide supporting element extending lengthwise along said outer face in continuous direct contact with said outer face and secured to said outer face at relatively closely spaced intervals and having ends extending beyond the ends of said side portions including means to hold all portions of said inner face in intimate and continuous direct contact with predetermined areas of the neck to thereby massage and strengthen the skin of the neck.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of this patent 2,774,601 2,828,736 UNITED STA 1' ES PATENTS 2,000,344 McClellan May 7, 74 3 2,002,449 Dohm May 21, 1935 5 2,723,663 Davis Nov. 15, 1955 2,725,054 Harpe-l Nov. 29, 1955 6 White Dec. 18, 1956 Monfardini Apr. 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS I Great Britain May 23, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES Gould: Rubber Age, March 1944, pp. 526-530. 

